Riyadh: Saudi Arabia and Kuwait have lifted restrictions on the US military’s use of their bases and airspace that were imposed after the launch of a US operation to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday, citing US and Saudi officials.
Meanwhile, the US was waiting on Thursday for Iran to respond to its latest proposed deal to end the war in the Middle East and to reopen the key shipping lane out of the Gulf. Oil prices tumbled five per cent after US President Donald Trump said once again that an agreement could be near after positive talks and Iran said it would pass on its latest position to mediator Pakistan.
Among oil traders and diplomats, there was optimism.
“We’ve had very good talks over the last 24 hours, and it’s very possible that we’ll make a deal,” Trump said on Wednesday.
Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said Tehran would communicate its position to mediator Pakistan “after finalising its views”. But inside Iran, many were cynical about the talks.
“Neither side in these negotiations is really capable of reaching an agreement,” 42-year-old photographer Shervin told AFP reporters in Paris.
“This is another one of Trump’s games; otherwise, why are so many warships and military forces being sent toward Iran?”-
Meanwhile, a Saudi source on Thursday rejected a US media report saying American President Donald Trump announced a pause in an American military operation to guide stranded ships through the Strait of Hormuz following an intervention by Riyadh.
According to a report from US network NBC News, Trump’s U-turn came after Saudi Arabia — whose Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reportedly talked directly to Trump — refused to allow US forces to use its airspace and bases for the Hormuz operation.
“This isn’t true,” a source close to the Saudi government said. The US still has regular access to Saudi bases and airspace, the source added.
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